Wednesday, February 16

President's Day Activities Two

So, here are a couple of things we're doing in First Grade this week to celebrate the old presidents.

First, we read a couple of books about Lincoln and Washington and documented our learning (the kids LOVE this.)

Lincoln’s Log Sorting Center

This week I wanted to incorporate President's Day into my reading workshop, so I made this little center. President’s day theme? Lincoln’s cabins. The idea is pretty basic.

Students sort “logs” onto Lincoln’s “cabins”. Once they fill a cabin up with logs, they’ve built it! (And, wowie-wow-wow are Firsties proud of themselves after they’ve “built” a cabin!! Ha!)

Pre-Sorting

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Post Sorting

Here are some example sorts.

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Compound Words V. Non-Compound Words

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Long E Words and Short E Words

What I love about this center is the variety of sorts you can make to differentiate for different kiddos. I stuck to sound sorts when I made my cabins, but you can also make syllable sorts, type of speech sorts, computation sorts, even and odd number sorts, and all other kinds of sorts with this pattern.

Want to make your own? Here’s how.

First, print this pattern (click the pic to download). It is UGLY. But, I promise it will turn out okay.... Just trust me on this one :)

I know it is ugly!!!!! See explanation below.

(I was totally afraid to cutesy this pattern up in case I lost the sizing of the craft sticks. They were a TOTAL nightmare to trace! Hence the lack of loveliness...)

To improve your cabins, I suggest adding some Cabin Bling. I just added a door and a window to mine because I am an underachiever, but that shouldn’t prevent you from going wild!!! You may also want to laminate your houses for durability.

After you’ve made your houses, program craft sticks for whatever skill you want your kiddos to practice. Math, reading, whatever. You also want to create labels for the houses (e.g. “Long E Words”, “Short E Words”).

To store this center, I put all of the sticks for each sort into a different labeled baggie. Then, I pull specific sorts for different kiddos who need work on different things. Or, when I’m feeling crazy, I just put out all of the baggies and the kids can sort whatever two groups they feel like. Before sorting the kids like to "shuffle" the sticks- translation: dump all of the sticks on the floor and swirl them around like there's no tomorrow. Then they get down to sorting business and once they’re done, the sorting sticks and labels go right back into the baggies. EASY!

Storage

President Mobile

So I totally wish that I could take credit for this super cute idea, but I can’t. It was entirely the mind-child of my brilliant and adorable colleague, Mrs. Shackelford.

My class hasn’t actually done this activity yet, but here’s how I plan on doing it. First, the kiddos are going to make their mobiles (glue a presidential silhouette to each side of a heart- EASY!!!!).

Then, the kiddos will sort statements about each president onto to either side of their mobile, gluing them to the mobile tail. Simple and cute. And who can’t use a little simplicity in their life?! Here's what it looks like when it's done (one pic of each side).

Any big plans for the Presidential Weekend? I don’t know about the rest of y’all, but I plan on catching some zzz’s. (Can you tell my mind is already on the weekend!?!?!?!)

38 comments:

I love the log cabin sort. I have the Old World Cartridge for the Cricut and I believe it has a cutout for a log cabin! This is such an awesome idea and like you said it is so versatile!Jeneawww.seedsofnoledge.blogspot.com

Just love your cute idea of the log cabins! How clever! I will need to make time to complete this project with my group this week. Thanks so much for sharing! Could you direct me to the "ugly" pattern? Thanks so much!~Michellehttp://firstgradebest.blogspot.com

I'm on spring break and loving your blog! Fantastic Stuff! I know President's Day is 11 months away, but it is so darn cute, I'd like to have for next year. If it isn't too much trouble, could you email me any patterns from Posts 1 and 2 for presidents? Thanks so much for sharing your FABULOUS ideas!!Martha-Carolmcarpenter@scsk12.org

OMG just found site and it's wonderful!!!!!!! Love your ideas and your other links to other peers sharing ideas, centers, and activities!!!!!! If you wouldn't mind also sharing President cutouts for mobiles would love to complete with my first graders will be doing log cabin sort. Great Idea!!!! Thanks Michellemlholloway@interact.ccsd.net

Thank you so much for sharing!!! I love your ideas and so did my classroom. One quick question...I'm brand spankin new at this blogging business and was wondering how you add the side column, such as putting things under 'months'...and adding your list of people that you follow? Any help is much appreciated. My blog URL is www.ashliwyland.blogspot.com

I love your President's Day activities and I would love to do them with my kids. Can you please e-mail me the President's Day Activities Two and the President's Mobile? Thank you for sharing. I'm looking forward to visiting your website again! mrscback@hotmail.com

I am a former Kindergarten/First Grade teacher saved by Jesus. Although I'm out of the classroom and into a life of volunteering, I still enjoy the more-than-occasional foray into the world of education for my kid-fix.